Mercy Trips: The Children of Savage Square

So I previously blogged on the boys of Savage Square. They are now the children of Savage Square and they are my children.

In my first month or so serving with Mercy Ships, I was praying that God would show me why He really had brought me to Sierra Leone. I felt that while the work on the ship and the great relationships I had there and all the love and help I was able to give, I wasn't fulfilling my purpose. I didn't know what it was and it wasn't until after meeting these boys and hearing of their need and desire to know more about the Lord Jesus did I understand why the Lord brought me there.

I did end up going to Mohamed's house on what was the Muslim holiday. His family is devout Muslim and all his sisters and brothers were dressed head to toe in their burkhas, hijabs, and taqiyahs (Muslim dress). I had a great time. He was very hospitable and offered me food and drink. I met 6 of his sisters and 2 of his brothers. There is 11 of them. I had a nice visit and learned alot about him and his family and how deeply into the Muslim religion they were.

The relationship with all the boys developed. I would go outside the gate almost daily just to hang out with them. In the process, I met many more boys, girls, and even older men, who were just curious as to why this woman was coming out into their community. I would meet with them and we would talk about God and the differences between Muslim and Christianity. I was able to share the gospel with more than one of them and share their need for salvation. In one conversation with Mohamed, he responded, "My heart is so confused." I knew the Lord was doing a work. We talked a few other times and after some time and after many questions, he made the decision that he wanted to follow Christ. Praise the Lord! His main concern after that was that he wanted his whole family to also come to know Jesus Christ. He was given a Bible and would read it all the time. He told me how one night he was up reading the book of John, and one of his sisters asked him what he was reading. He responded, "The Word of God." She told him he was crazy. Over time, Mohamed, BS, Abdul, and the other Mohamed had the desire to come to church. Myself and Gideon, a crew member on the ship from Ghana, took the boys to a nearby church, hoping they would be able to establish a relationship with the church and continue to attend there. The sermon was about how as believers we will face persecution. It was so appropriate for all that Mohamed had been going through in this family. On the way back from church, as we were walking back down Savage Square, different guys in the community were yelling at the boys and mocking them for having gone to church. That was the beginning, but they held firm and every Sunday following they came with me to church.

God also made it possible for the Jesus Film to be played in this community. I spoke with the headmaster of the nearby school to get permission to show the movie in the field of the school. He gave us permission and then I spoke with the Jesus Film team and we were able to show it so all the boys and those in the community could view the film. God worked through that film as some of the boys had more questions following the viewing of the Jesus film.

These children and people of Savage Square have become mine! and hold a special part in my heart. I love them as if they were my own children and want to see the best for them. I struggled with knowing how to help them because each of them had a need, not only a spiritual one but also financial needs. I was before the Lord fervently as to how to approach these needs. I also became close to some of the truck workers in the community. Because Savage Square is so close to the dock, many truckers drive trucks with containers. Many of the drivers are young men, some as young as 18. I was able to meet and speak with a few of these men too.

Mohamed, Alhaji and BS (Bai Sama)

Alhaji, Fatmata, Hassanatu, Balu, Mohamed, Abdul, Zainab, Mohamed, BS and Saidu

Samuel, Alhaji, Hassanatu, Mohamed, Fatmata, Balu, Zainab, Saidu, Donald aka Artist

Artist and Alieu (some young truck drivers)

Alhaji, Mohamed, Artist, Abdul, and Mohamed

Mother Theresa once said Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go." She also said, "We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty." I realized how true this was, because while I wasn't able to provide them all with food and money, I was able to show them God's love. I learned so much from the boys. I learned about myself, about a pride in myself that I didn't know was there, and how to love people as God loves them. God has an interesting way of showing us about ourselves, and He did that through the lives of the children of Savage Square. They have my heart and I will miss them sooo much. Some of them call me Auntie Apphia and others call me Mum. Those are my children and I pray that God will bring my back to Sierra Leone one day.